Wheeler announces Health Care Initiative

Frank Wheeler, Republican candidate for State House District 8, announced today his Wheeler Affordable Health Care Initiative. Details of the plan can also be found on his campaign website, www.WheelerStateHouse.com.

Below are Wheeler's comments about his new plan:

There is perhaps no greater burden on our families today than the rising cost of quality health care and health insurance. The escalating cost of health insurance and health care are limiting access to quality care for families. Small businesses are finding it difficult to afford to provide any health insurance coverage to their workers. As a small business owner, I have faced this situation personally. My wife has returned to work with the Rabun County School System mainly so that we can afford health insurance for our children, so I understand first hand how difficult a challenge this has become.

Currently almost 20% of Georgians are uninsured. This places a huge financial burden on uninsured families and the taxpayers who are paying for the uninsured. In addition, uncollected healthcare bills result in increased charges by healthcare providers, and in the end, the insured pay higher premiums to cover these losses.

So as part of my campaign for State Representative I am proposing an innovative plan to allow small businesses to purchase health insurance for their employees through the State

Employee Health Benefit Plan. I want small businesses to be able to purchase health insurance for their employees through the very same program the state uses to provide coverage to state employees and officials like Charles Jenkins.

By expanding the number of people insured, health insurance costs will drop for the individual and the state. This will save the State, taxpayers, and small businessowners money, but most importantly, it will help provide access to quality health insurance and health care for thousands of Georgia families.

There is not a silver bullet, quick fix solution to the growing problem of health care costs, but I believe the ultimate solution will be found in market based efforts like this proposal. What we must oppose is "feel good, sound good" solutions that are really nothing more than throwing more tax dollars - OUR hard earned tax dollars - at a problem. Real solutions come when we use some common sense and find market based efforts that lower costs for everyone.

I like Charles Jenkins and I believe he is a good man, but we disagree on some significant issues - like how best to provide affordable health care for our families. Mr. Jenkins' proposal is the same proposal as Democrat candidate for Governor Mark Taylor's proposal. While it sounds good, ultimately it does nothing to lower costs because it's just throwing more taxpayer money at a system that is broken. We

need to empower small businesses and families to buy their own private insurance that is affordable. The more power we give the consumer, the more market forces will drive down costs.

Wheeler is the Republican candidate for House District 8, currently held by Charles Jenkins. House District 8 is comprised of Union, Towns, Rabun and part of White County.

A proven leader, Wheeler is an active member of Clayton First United Methodist Church, where he serves as Chairman of the Endowment Committee and as a member of the Finance Committee. He is a member of the Clayton Rotary Club, a Boy Scout and Cub Scout leader, a recreation department soccer coach, and is currently Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Rabun County Chamber of Commerce. Wheeler also serves of the Board of Directors for the Northeast Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross and is an Executive Committee member for the Northeast Georgia Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

A graduate of the University of Georgia and a U.S. Army veteran, Wheeler has worked in education for 7 years. Last year he joined the real estate field. He and his wife, Paige, have been married for 15 years. She is employed by the Rabun County Board of Education. They have two sons, Nathan age 12, and Duncan age 9. Learn more at www.wheelerstatehouse.com